Assessment of School Health Policy in Ghana; Perspective of Teachers in Second Cycle Institutions in the Kwadaso Municipal Area, Kumasi

Juliana  Akumiah Opoku; Joseph Kwasi  Brenyah; Alyiu  Mohammed; Akohene  Kofi Mensah

doi:10.25159/2312-3540/13890

Authors

Juliana Akumiah Opoku Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Joseph Kwasi Brenyah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8601-8874
Alyiu Mohammed Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Akohene Kofi Mensah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8737-3130

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2312-3540/13890

Keywords:

school health policy, perspective of teachers, second cycle institutions, Ghana

Abstract

Background: The focus on school health has moved from the classroom to a more comprehensive approach focusing on students’ health behaviours and a supportive school environment in health promotion. As school health policy helps to reduce health risk behaviours, knowledge and perspectives of Teachers in school health are key.

Method: An institutional school-based cross-sectional study involving 220 teachers in second-cycle institutions in the Kwadaso Municipal-Ghana from June to August 2022. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using STATA version 16, Microsoft Excel, and Jamovi 2.3.12. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square association tests were conducted between the outcome and independent variables.

Results: The age range was 24-56 years. Most respondents were first-degree graduates (52.5%). The study found that the school's health program covers all aspects of the health needs of the students (Mean=2.98, SD= 1.34). Also, the school health programs focused on preventive measures (Mean=2.46, SD= 1.081). Again, about 41.63% perceived that they passionately share the view that effective implementation of the health policy in their school is associated with their classroom responsibility (Mean=2.34, SD=0.918). Items such as 'My school has adequate classrooms’ (110 [50.2%], Mean=2.33, SD 1.169, 'My school has friendly facilities for People Living with Disability (84[38.0%], mean=2.70 and SD of 1.315) have seen a high agreement. About 44.3% of the respondents believe that the school health program has improved their knowledge.

Conclusion: Most teachers had adequate perspective in the school health program due to their high knowledge of school health issues.

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Author Biographies

Juliana Akumiah Opoku, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Master of Public Health

Alyiu Mohammed, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Department of Field Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Lecturer / Research Fellow

Akohene Kofi Mensah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Lecturer / Research Fellow

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